Brake mechanism for cars



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. J. WRIGHT.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR CARS.

(No Model.)

No. 430,500. Patented June 17. 1890.

Win/@8990,

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. A. J. WRIGHT.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR CARS. No. 430,500. Patented June 17, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

ALLEN J. W'RIGHT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 430,506, dated June1'7, 1890. Application filed November 18, 1889. Serial No. 330,914. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN J. wme of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBrake Mechanism for Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in brake mechanism for cars; and itconsists in certain features of construction and in combination of partshereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. Somewhat analogousmechanism, adapted more especially to a train of steam-cars, is made thesubject of a separate application, Serial No. 330,914, for United StatesLetters Patent, bearing even date herewith. In this application themechanism is shown more especially adapted to cable-cars or carspropelled by electric or other motors, although it may be applied tohorse-cars.

In the accompanying,drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly insection. Fig. 2 is a plan taken below the car-body. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation, partly in section, corresponding with Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isaperspective of frame 0. Fig. 5 is an elevation in detail hereinafterdescribed. Fig. 6 is a plan in detail.

A A represent the car-wheels, we will suppose, of a motor or grip-carthat is supposed always to run the same end foremost.

A A are the car-axles, and A A are friction-wheels mounted on thecar-axles.

B B are so-called friction-bands adapted, respectively, to engage wheelsA The outer member I) of each friction-band is a band proper constructedusually of thin sheet metal, with a lining composed of transverse slatsor shoes I), usually metal, these shoes having concaved inner surfacesadapted to engage the faces of wheels A The frictionbands are broadenough to overhang the faces of the co-operating friction-wheels A andthese overhanging sections of a frictionband are engaged by a movableframe 0, adapted to lift the friction-band off the face of the wheel,one such frame being shown detached in Fig. 4E.

The construction of frame 0 is as follows: Plates 0 are arranged inpairs astride a wheel A the two plates of a frame being rigidlyconnected by means of yoke 0 Rods c c and c c are rigidly secured to therespective plates C near the extremes thereof, and these rods areconnected at the converging ends thereof in any suitable manner, andthese rods on the left-hand frame are pivoted at c to lever G, and therods of the frame on the right hand are pivoted to a bell-crank lever,hereinafter described. The friction-band on the left hand is for settingthe brakes on this car, and the friction-band on the right hand ismainly for operating a reel on whicha cord is wound, by means of whichcord the brake on this car or other connected cars are controlled. Iwill first describe the mechanism connected with the left-handfriction-band, whereby the brakes of this car are operated. Asaforesaid, frame 0 connects at c with lever G. This lever, together withthe small drum 9 and the depending rock-arm G all connect withrock-shaft G. Plates G",-near the lower extremes thereof, are pivotallyconnected with links 0 these links in turn being pivoted at f tosupporting-brackets F. By shifting lever G toward the left hand theconnected frame 0 is backed off, so as to disengage the friction-bandfrom the wheel. Meantime, and by the means of the inclined position oflinks 0 as shown, the frame is lifted, so as to elevate thefriction-band far enough to clear the top section of the friction-wheel.By reversing lever G frame 0 is reversed, whereby the friction-band iscaused to engage the friction-wheel. The car is supposed to traveltoward the right hand, and hence wheels A revolve in the direction ofthe arrow. The lower or draft end of this friction-band is connected bymeans of rod, chain, or belt (Z (and we will suppose the former) withlever D at D. This lever is fulcrumed at D and on either side of thefulcrum of this lever are attached rods (1 (7?, leading in opposite.directions and connecting with the respective brake-bars K, to whichbars are attached the brake-shoes K in the usual manner. The

brake beams, shoes, and connected mechanism are of ordinaryconstruction, including links and springs (not shown) for supporting IOOthe brake-beams and backing the brakes away from the wheels. Cord 79connects with the upper end of this friction-band, this cord beingattached to and wound around drum G aforesaid in the direction shown. Inshifting lever G toseparate the friction-band from the wheel cord b isslacked off to loosen the friction-band. In reversing lever G the cordis tightened and in turn tightens the friction-band, so that the latterrevolves a short distance with the friction-wheel, and in so doingapplies the brakes. The frictionband also serves as a brake in helpingto check the momentum of the car. Lever G at the upper extreme thereofis provided with sheave g, over which passes cord I, this cord passingunder sheaves i i, the latter being located, as shown, on either side ofthe lever and on a plane lower than sheave g. The lefthand end of thecord is supposed to be fastened, and by drawing on the right-hand end ofthe cord lever G is shifted from the position shown in dotted lines tothe position shown in solid lines. IVhen cord I is loosened, lever Greverses by the action of spring g, and the springs of the brake-beamalso aid in reversing the intermediate mechanism, brake-band, c.

The friction-wheel, friction-ban d, and frame 0, located on the righthand, as shown in Fig. 1, are constructed in the manner alreadydescribed. The principal service of this friction-band is in operating areel on which cord I is wound, and by means of which the cord istightened or loosened in operating the brakes of this or of other carsthat may be connect-ed. To this end the upper or draft end of thefriction-band connects with red E, the latter terminating in orconnecting with a rack E, this rack engaging pinion e. On the same shaftwith the pinion is mounted reel or drum 6', on which cord I winds in thedirection shown, and by means of which reel the cord is tightened orloosened in operating lever G, and if the cord be extended to other carsit can be made simultaneously to operate 7 other similar levers inoperating the brakes of the other cars. Spring g reverses thisfriction-band when the latter is loosened. For shifting the right-handframe 0 the latter connects with the upright arm of bell-crank leverH,the latter beingpivoted at the elbow thereof, as shown. The other armof the bell-crank lever connects with rod II, this rod leading to andconnecting with hand-lever H this lever being located at the forward endof the car, where it is within easy reach of the operator. By movingthis hand-lever forward the friction-band is disengaged from the wheel.By reversing the lever the frictionband is made to engage thefriction-wheel;

For tightening this friction-band is provided cord h, the latterconnecting with the lower end of the friction-band, the other end of thecord being connected with and wound around drum E in the directionshown, this drum being connected with and actuated by the movement ofthe bell-crank lever E aforesaid. In backing off the friction-band cordh is slacked off, thus loosening the frictionband. In reversing thehand-lever, whereby drum E is reversed, cord h is tightened, therebytightening the friction-band and causing the latter to revolve a shortdistance with the friction-wheel, thereby actuating the reel on whichcord I winds.

On street-railways provided with loops or turn-tables, whereby the motoror grip-car is always run with the same end of the car forward, stillthe other cars that are drawn by such motors or grip-cars are likely torun either end forward, and hence the brake mechanism on these cars mustbe arranged accordingly, such arrangement being shown in Figs. 2 and 3,and may be substantially as follows: Each axle of the car is providedwith friction-wheel A and each friction-wheel is provided with afriction-band B and frame 0, constructed as aforesaid, one of thesefriction-bands being arranged to operate the brake mechanism when thecar is running in the one direction and the other friction-band beingarranged to operate the brake with the cars running in the otherdirection, the one friction-band or the other always remaining idle, sofar as setting the brakes is concerned. To this end J is a rock-shaft,to which is attached rock arm or lever G, the latter being substantiallyas heretofore described, the same being operated by cord 1. Therock-shaft has also rock-arms J and J the former extending upward andthe latter downward from the shaft. Frame 0 on the left hand connectswith arm J at j, and to this rock-arm at j is attached springs 7' thelatter connecting with rod or cord b of the right-hand brake-band. Theframe 0 on the left hand connects with arm J 2 at 3' and cord b of theleft-hand brake-band connects with spring b that in turn connects witharm J 2 at The lower or draft end of each frictionband is respectivelyconnected by means of chain, cord, or link d with lever D at D in themanner shown in Fig. 6, including the prolongation of this lever shownin dotted lines, and from lever D lead rods d connecting with thebrake-beams K, in the manner already described.

P P are springs connecting, respectively, with the brake-bands above andextending in opposite directions and attaching to the car for reversingthese brake-bands. If the car be moving toward the right hand in movinglever G to the left hand, both cords b and their attached spring 19 willdraw on the respective friction-bands; but such draft on the right-handfriction-band being ap plied for the time being to the draft end thereofspring 19 of this friction-band yields a little, and there being nothingto take up the slack at the lower end of this band the latter slides 011the friction-wheel and is inoperative so far as setting the brakes, butwhatever friction is caused thereby helps to check the momentum of thecar. left hand being tightened by cord 17 and spring 19 connecting withthe loose end of this brake-band, the latter is made to grasp thefriction-Wheel and turn with the wheel the limited distance necessary insetting the brake. If the car were moving in the opposite direction, theright-hand friction-band would set the brakes in like manner, and theleft-hand friction-band would then be inoperative, and it will beobserved that the lever G may be shifted by drawing on either end ofcord 1, provided the other end is made fast. Hence by the mechanismshown in Fig. 1 the reel may operate cord I, so as to set the brakes onany number of attached cars, and if these cars are changed so as to runin the opposite direction the brakes will be still set by the' samemechanism.

I may add that if the friction-band at the right hand in Fig. 1 hassuificient power for the purpose a cable or other attachment might beapplied to this friction-band in place of rod, and such rod or cablemight lead, for instance, to the next car and be attached to theordinary brake mechanism thereon, the same as the chain leading from theordinary handwinch of street-cars is attached to the lever that operatesthe brakes, as heretofore used. Such attachments for connecting thebrakeband at the right hand in Fig. 1 with ordinary brake mechanism ofother cars is not shown; but any ordinary mechanic familiar with thebrake mechanism of ordinary streetcars would have no difficulty inmaking such connection.

Various modifications may be had without departing from the purpose andspirit of my invention. For instance, if, as is likely to be the case onelectric-motor cars, there is not room on the car-axles for thefriction-wheels hereinbefore mentioned, another axle or shaft might beemployed for the purpose, such axle The brake-band on the or shaft beingintergeared or operatively connected with one of the car-axles.

WVhat I claim is 1. In brake mechanism for cars, the combination ofcar-axle, friction-wheel mounted thereon, friction-band adapted toengage such friction-Wheel or be disengaged therefrom, and reeloperatively connected with the draft end of such friction-band,substantially as set forth. 7

2. In brake mechanism for cars, in combination, car-axle, friction-wheelmounted thereon, friction-band adapted to engage suchfriction-wheel,reel operatively connected with the draft end of suchfriction-band, and cord engaging such reel, such cord being adapted tooperate the brake mechanism of the same or other cars, substantially asset forth.

3. I11 brake mechanism for cars, in combination,car-axle,friction-wheelmounted thereon, and friction -band adapted to engage suchfriction-wheel, the draft end of such frictionband being operativelyconnected with the car-brakes, the loose end of the friction-band havingattachment, substantially as indicated, for tightening suchfriction-band, substantially as set forth.

4:. In brake mechanism for cars, in combination, car-axle, friction-wheel mounted thereon, and friction-band adapted to engage suchfriction-wheel, the draft end of such frictionband having suitableattachments adapted to connect with and operate brake mechanism of thesame or other car, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 10th day of October, 1889.

ALLEN J. WVRIGHT.

\Vitnesses:

C. H. DORER, ALBERT E. LYNcH.

